Total pages in book: 177
Estimated words: 163387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 163387 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 817(@200wpm)___ 654(@250wpm)___ 545(@300wpm)
The lawyer was doing a pretty good job of explaining things as he went, and poor Cody was getting another firsthand look at the crazy. He was actually brave enough to look over to where the elders had moved to in the large living room area of the suite.
“Ten million dollars a year for the first five years if we divorce? Why would you do that? What if Lisa married some unscrupulous jerk who was only in it for the money? Wouldn’t this be giving him what he wants?”
Why is he so mad? He was all but huffing smoke in their direction. Kitty, aka Leona Helmsley, answered him again since it seems she’d rendered the others mute. “Well, think about it. If you are, as you say, unscrupulous, then fifty million to get you out of our hair is a pittance and more than worth it to save our girl from a rogue.”
“You’ll learn, Cody, as time goes on, that ten million dollars is less than what we pay for one of our vacations. Does that clear things up for you, young man?” He nodded his head and went back to reading and listening as I did the same from next to him. I’d finally allowed him to have an unopened can of pop, which was all I’m trusting for now even though I’m starving, and I imagine he is too.
He took one sip and spewed it all over the next page. I grabbed it from the lawyer’s hand as Cody choked and gagged. The sounds he made were so odd that I couldn’t tell if he was choking, laughing, or crying. And then I read what had put him in that condition. “Four kids before he’s thirty? What is wrong with you people?”
“I’ll sign it.” I think I chose a lame horse.
“Cody!”
“Babe, think about it. You’re an only child and so are your parents. Come to think of it; I’m also an only child. This family needs more offspring. We better make that five kids, so there’d be no infighting.”
“What are you talking about?” I hissed right before starting to hyperventilate.
“I’ll tell you later,” He whispered back.
He went on to read and sign more of their insane demands. At least one vacation a year with the whole family. Holidays are for the whole family to be together. There was even something in there about the kids spending time with their grandparents. I imagined a poor little girl having to take piano and ballet classes dressed like she was going to the ball while all she wanted was to play in puddles.
“I thought prenups were about protecting the family assets; what’s all this?” I was asking my family, but once again, it was Cody who answered.
“This is protecting the family assets. To them, you’re a bigger asset than their wealth. Your family wants family baby, nothing wrong with that.”
“Do you realize you’re the last of their line on either side?” While I was trying to get my head around that, he stood to his feet and walked over to Grandma Davenport with the folder.
“All signed. Thank you for trusting me with her. I look forward to becoming a part of your family.”
Pandemonium, total pandemonium, and I still didn’t know what happened. Does he understand that he just signed a binding contract that gives these people free rein to meddle to their heart’s content in his future?
The elders nodded their heads at each other while congratulating themselves. Mom and dad were saying something to Cody’s parents on the screen, and I needed to put my head between my knees before I passed out. “What just happened?” I asked Cody while I felt my eyes dilate.
He walked back to my side and took my hand again, anchoring me once more. “It’s okay, baby, I’ve got this.”
CODY
“Cody, you know I love you, right?” I nodded my head as I closed the door behind us, not sure where she was going with this. She’d been silent all the way back to the dorm in the car, but I thought that was only because of Jarvis being there and not wanting him to repeat anything we said.
But she hadn’t said anything all the way up until now. “Of course, I know you love me, baby. I love you too.”
“I didn’t realize how much until right this minute. I also just realized what it means when they say love is selfless.”
“What’re you getting at?”
“Run! As fast and as far as you can.”
I laughed and pulled her into my arms; I couldn’t help it. If I thought she was serious, I’d have taken her to task for wanting to get rid of me so easily, but I knew it was just nerves talking and some light comedy to lighten the mood of the last few hours.
She has no idea that her family has walked into the trap that I hadn’t even knowingly set. From the moment I first realized what I was dealing with, I knew I was looking at an uphill battle. Her mom has the damn footprint from the hospital where I was born.